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Mario Kart 8 is as deliriously entertaining as it was when it was released three years ago. The glorious candy-coated visuals, swooping track design and soaring music haven’t aged a day; conflating to a furiously competitive, yet constantly exhilarating sugar rush.

In fact, the fundamentals of this Deluxe addition remains so intact, warts and all, that my original review should have you covered for gameplay specifics before we get onto what this upgraded Switch version does. So off you go if you need a refresher, enjoy. Just, er, forget about the bit about it maybe saving Wii U, we know how that turned out. Dramatic effect and all that.

Back? Ok great.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe makes no apology for what it is: a Switch re-release that includes all of the excellent DLC tracks that we saw on Wii U (aswell as the stomach-churningly quick 200cc mode), a handful of new characters and a couple of extra bells and whistles. You could grumble about not having a new game, or not even having new tracks, but Deluxe is a tremendous strategic release for Nintendo. The Wii U’s underperformance is well documented and, while Mario Kart 8 sold very well in that context, a chance for new players to jump into a great game on a peppy and initially popular new console is a smart move.

It’s a momentum builder. But what could make this game Nintendo’s most important release of 2017 (dramatic effect, remember) is that Mario Kart is the perfect advertisement for the Switch’s flexible quirks and qualities. Here is a game that is a lot of fun in single-player, allowing you to start Grand Prixs at home before taking them on the train to reach the finish line. But crucially it is a game that comes to life in multiplayer, supporting the Switch’s ideology of taking the machine out with you, snapping off a controller and handing it to a pal for a quick whip around the tracks.

In a week or so of play I have played Mario Kart at home with my young son, using the tiny toy steering wheels for motion control. I’ve taken it on my commute for a few races on the train. I’ve then roped in colleagues at work for a blast at break-time. I’ve played online in more competitive races. It is a fascinating example of how the system works. How Mario Kart, with its promise of instant, easy multiplayer, has made the Switch a gadget I will rarely leave the house without.

The tweaks that Nintendo have made to the game speak to that idea of pulling in players of varying skill. Most obvious is the auto-acceleration, which speaks for itself, and the ‘smart steering’ which helps less experienced players stay on the tracks. No more will new players get flung off each bend of Rainbow Road, as the game automatically drags you away from the edge. And in a typically Nintendo touch, an antenna appears when you are being guided. It’s easy to switch each feature on and off, allowing for different handicaps and making an already mainstream game even more accessible.

Experienced players aren’t left without, however. There is a third level of drift boost --the sharp burst of speed you are granted after a long drift-- indicated by fizzing purple sparks as you sweep around a large bend. This will surely allow expert players to shave seconds from their fastest times and bring an extra level of competition online. While you can now hold two weapons at a time, meaning more carnage at the business end of races. And while I can’t be absolutely certain, it feels like the distribution of weaponry has levelled out a little. You still get the best stuff when you’re lagging behind, of course, to encourage epic comebacks, but you might get a handy red shell high up the field. Coupled with the dual-weapons, this ensures more fracas between the leading racers.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe includes a fully-fledged battle mode

And now that zesty vehicular combat is getting its own spell in the limelight. The original Mario Kart 8’s Battle Mode was an insignificant afterthought, but Deluxe makes it a headline feature. There are eight arenas to charge around in, including some classics of Battle Modes past, and a modest variety of gametypes to play. There’s the classic Balloon Fight, where players try to score the most hits on their opponents; Bob-omb Blast is bomb-only carnage; Coin Runner asks you to collect the most gold coins, smacking richer opponents around to nick their swag. And Shine Thief is a kind of rolling King of the Hill, as players must hold onto a star for a certain amount of time to win, dropped if you get belted by a boomerang (or other flying object).

The all-new Renegade Roundup is the real winner, though. This is a team-based game of cops and robbers, as one team chases down the other with chomping Piranha Plants. Get caught and you are slung in a cell, trapped until one of your teammates can free you or they are all captured. It is an absolute riot, tuning into to the party-game boisterousness that Nintendo can excel at, topsy-turvy matches turning to hilarity.

With Battle Mode restored, the bumper pack of tracks and the neat nips and tucks, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the fullest and most finely-tuned entry the series has seen. As well it should be. While there can be legitimate eyebrow-raising at full price for a three year old port, there is enough work here to offer value to even the most seasoned MK8 player. And crucially for Nintendo and the Switch, it is a splendid celebration of its host console’s charms.